Join Me and Others at the Library Insights Panel in Chicago on June 26th

For the second year in a row I am pleased to be a part of the Library Insight Summit. From their About page:

Library Insights Summit 2026 - Connecting Publishers & Librarians

Register Today!

LIS is the only conference designed to bring established publishers, author-publishers, and librarians together for a full day of smart, actionable, and future-focused programming.

Spend your morning in targeted breakout sessions for your community—then come together in the afternoon for conversations that matter to everyone working along the path from book creation to reader access.

Scheduled for the day before ALA Annual in Chicago, at McCormick Place, LIS will feature morning breakout sessions for three communities: established trade publishers, author publishers, and librarians. In the afternoon, we’ll bring everyone together for programming relevant to all sectors.

If you work anywhere along the path between book creation and reader access, you belong at LIS! 

Also here is info I received form a marketing email:

At a time when so much of our work happens digitally, there is still enormous value in gathering together in person.

Ideas sharpen.
Relationships deepen.
Perspectives widen.
Inspiration ignites.

The Library Insights Summit was created to foster exactly those moments. It brings publishers and librarians into the same room for practical conversations, collaborative thinking, and the kind of networking that strengthens business relationships and enriches the literary community.

We hope you’ll join us in Chicago on June 26.

Register today at https://libraryinsightssummit2026.sched.com/

This event is only $199 and you get breakfast and lunch. It is the day leading up to the late afternoon opening session of ALA. This means you can join us if you are going to ALA but also, even if you are not.

I will be there all day as an attendee and a presenter. Here are the detail on my panel:

Smarter Marketing for Maximum Library Impact:

As library supply chains and discovery systems evolve, publishers are facing new challenges in getting their titles seen and ordered. At the same time, librarians are navigating a fragmented marketplace to find trustworthy, complete information on forthcoming books. This session brings together marketing and distribution experts to show how publishers can sharpen their strategies, stretch their budgets, and strengthen relationships with this vital audience. Learn how to optimize metadata for library visibility, coordinate publicity with wholesale and discovery platforms, and build long-term awareness among collection development professionals.

I am the moderator and my panelists are:

• Lila Denning: Acquisitions Coordinator, St Petersburg Library System 
• Kaycie Hoffman Blaylock: Library & Resource Coordinator, Alexandria City Public Schools
• Rebecca Vnuk: Executive Director, LibraryReads

I can't wait to share our marketing tips with such an accomplished group of library workers from school to public settings. We are at 10:30, but I urge you to see the entire list of programs available here. As an attendee last year, I can tell you with confidence, that this event is worth your time. The amount of learning, idea sharing, and networking I got in that single day last year rivaled what I got from the entire conference to follow. I think the quote in the image above sums it up perfectly:

"Creates a much needed quiet space to dive deep and focus in the connection of publishers and librarians before the loud and invigorating energy of everything that the ALA Conference is!" 

Please consider joining us, especially if you are a library worker in the Chicago area who doesn't plan to attend the entire conference. I know not everyone can be there every day, but this is a nice option before it all begins.

(Also RAILS libraries, head over to their site to grab your $40 Exhibit Passes and use them on your day off to wander the Exhibit Hall. Also hot tip for all-- I will be at the S&S Booth on Saturday signing copies of WHY I LOVE HORROR. More details soon.)

 As I said, I will be there the entire time, not just for my panel. Maybe I will see you there.

Click here to register now.

NYT Shares How A Book Gets on Our Library Shelves Considering Post B&T Collapse Issues and Why This is All Part of Our Inability to Communicate Who We Are and What We Do

I talk at length about how bad we, as a profession are at communicating with the general pubic. I have a longer, more general post about that here. But I also have a tag for "communicate better" because whenever there is a big library issue, we DO NOT GET AHEAD OF IT and that hurts us.

My most recent example (before today) is the eBook pricing issue that I have been working on fixing here in IL-- for years, but it is finally going somewhere. Click here and here for that. That second link includes my letter that was filed as part of our hearing for the House. We got through the IL House with a 99-0 vote and are awaiting the Senate to move on it. 

When we communicate our needs and how our processes work clearly, people listen. Even when they are frustrated. And today I have a perfect example, except it was not US who stepped up to communicate it was the NYT.

Let me back track. 

As we all know, last year, B&T imploded. Yes I know many of you were too busy scrambling to communicate what was going on to your patrons, even as it led to delays in books getting on the shelf. This was our first mistake, to not designate someone to get the word out far and wide using the same energy we use to get the word out about a program we want to succeed. This is our bread and butter. The books we collect on our shelves.

Putting that aside, even though I should not. I need to call everyone out a bot further here because every single one of us who used B&T has known for years that there were serious problems with B&T. Yes some was from when they were hacked during the pandemic, but they were doing badly before that and it never improved after. Yes it was shocking when they simply shut down and stop serving us with no warning...BUT, come on, it was not like they were fulfilling our orders in a timely fashion, and forget about seeing new books for months if you used their cataloging services.

We should have not only been ready for them to implode, but we should have also been hiring staff to help us process what books we did get and shed their shoddy service.

But I digress. 

Months later, many libraries are still struggling to fill the hole. And look, I am not trying to minimize how devastating this was to libraries everywhere and of every size. BUT we have stayed silent about what it looks like on the ground. As libraries are dealing with book challenges, a call to provide more and more community services, so many other things, our inability to get the bestsellers people want on the shelves- that we stayed silent about.

This was our chance to make it clear that we are doing our best, that what it takes to get a book from ordered to on the shelf is complicated. We did not do that, and as a result, people who would have been our supporters, have been angry that they aren't getting our books. BECAUSE WE STAYED SILENT. BECAUSE WE DID NOT TEL OUR STORY FOR OURSELVES. We lost a chance to garner more goodwill. 

But thankfully the book reporters at the New York Times worked with Iowa City Public Library to tell our story to a wider audience. 

Here is the excellent, clear, and full of photos article they published. I have provided a gift link for you all.

And the article goes above and beyond the basics. For example, they explain in clear and easy language, how B&T was not just a place to order the books, nor was it only the place to order and have things processed, but also many libraries used their suite of services to help them get the right number of bestsellers on the shelves, whether that was predictive ordering or even standing order author plans. 

When I did collection development we had the 250 standing order author plan. Those were 250 authors (we updated it each year) that I never had to even think about. Their books just came to my library. Now, libraries have to remember to order every single James Patterson, Stephen King, Nora Roberts etc...

I have heard library people tell me that some of these more nuanced things are too complicated to explain to the public. Well, this article just proved that argument wrong. 

Please, please, please...I am begging all of you, as a library, prioritize communicating who we are and what we do with your community on a regular basis. Share how the sausage is made. Make it a part of your normal marketing. Again, use the same strategies you use to get people to come to your biggest program. Be clear, open, and communicative with your community and they will be hairier with our services while we will get taken advantage of a lot less often.

Thank you to the NYT for telling a story all of us needed to be shared with a wider audience.

Using Awards Lists As a RA Tool: Eisner Awards Edition

This is part of my ongoing series on using Awards Lists as a RA tool. Click here for all posts in the series in reverse chronological order. Click here for the first post which outlines the details how to use awards lists as a RA tool.   

Last week the Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees were announced. From the Awards Landing Page:

Comic-Con is proud to announce the nominees for the 2026 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards. The nominations are for works published between January 1 and December 31, 2025 and were chosen by a blue-ribbon panel of judges.

Once again, this year’s nominees in 32 categories reflect the wide range of material being published in the U.S. in comics and graphic novels, representing over 170 print and online titles from some 75 publishers, produced by creators from all over the world.

Among publishers, DC Comics has 16 nominations (plus 10 shared), led by Absolute Martian Manhunter with 6 (3 standalone and 3 shared) and Absolute Batman with 5 (2 standalone and 3 shared). Image Comics has 12 nominations plus 9 shared, including 5 for Deniz Camp and Eric Zawadski’s Assorted Crisis Events (3 standalone and 2 shared) and 4 for James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds’ Department of Truth.

Fantagraphics’ 14 nominations include 3 for graphic memoirs, 3 for U.S. editions of international material, and 3 for archival collections. Abrams imprints account for 9 nominations, spanning eight different categories, while Drawn & Quarterly has 6 nominees, followed by Random House with 5.

Other publishers with multiple nominations include Dark Horse (4 plus 4 shared), Henry Holt (4), First Second (4), VIZ Media (4), Marvel (3 plus 5 shared), and Top Shelf (3 plus 1 shared). Publishers with 3 nominations include Andrews McMeel, New York Review Comics, Pantheon, Peow2, Stacked Deck, and Yen Press. IDW has 2 plus 5 shared, while BOOM! and Oni both have 2 plus 1 shared. Nine companies have 2 nominations each, and another 41 companies or individuals have 1 nomination.

In addition to Absolute Martian Manhunter, Absolute Batman, Assorted Crisis Events, and Department of Truth, works with the most nominations include Jesse Lonergan’s Drome (Best Graphic Album–New, Best Writer/Artist, Best Coloring) and Linnea Sterte’s A Garden of Spheres (Best Graphic Album–New, Best Writer/Artist, Best Painter.

When it comes to creators, Deniz Camp leads the pack with 5 nominations: Best Limited Series (Absolute Martian Manhunter), Best New Series (Assorted Crisis Events), 2 for Best Single Issue, and Best Writer. James Tynion IV follows with 4 nominations, including Best Writer. Those with 3 nominations include Juni Ba, Javier Rodriguez, Jesse Lonergan, Linnea Sterte, Kelly Thompson, and Eric Zawadski. Another 17 creators have 2 nominations.

Named for acclaimed comics creator Will Eisner, the awards are celebrating their 38th year of bringing attention to and highlighting the best publications and creators in comics and graphic novels. The 2026 Eisner Awards judging panel consists of writer Regine Sawyer, librarian Jerry Dear, reviewer/journalist Tiffany Babb, comics retailer Katie Pryde, and comics scholar Randy Duncan.

Voting for the awards is being held online. All professionals in the comic book industry are eligible to vote. Those who voted in 2025 or who registered to vote by May 14 will automatically be invited to fill out the new ballot. The deadline for voting is June 5.

The Eisner Award trophies will be presented in a gala awards ceremony to be held at the San Diego Hilton Bayfront Hotel during Comic-Con on the evening of July 24.

Click here to see the nominees for this year. That page also has the links for past nominees, winners,  judges, and the Hall of Fame. Everything for this, the biggest awards in comics and graphic novels, is all available with one click.

Yes you can use the current slate of nominees for your collection development, but also peruse the last few years of backlist nominees because those comics that were honored, they might be in bound volumes now, meaning you need to add them to your collections as well. 

Graphic novels and comics are great reads any time of year, but as we inch toward Comic Con, interest definitely pique's with those who aren't regular readers. Make it easier for all patrons to find them by pulling them out for display.

LibraryReads: June 2026

      

 It's LibraryReads day and that means four things here on RA for All

1. I post the list and tag it “Library Reads” so that you can easily pull up every single list with one click.
2. I can remind you that even though the newest list is always fun to see, it is the older lists where you can find AWESOME, sure bet suggestions for patrons that will be on your shelf to actually hand to them right now. The best thing about LibraryReads is the compound interest it is earning. We now have hundreds and hundreds of titles worth suggesting right at our fingertips through this archive OR the sortable master list allowing you to mix and match however you want.
3. You have no excuse not to hand sell any LibraryReads titles because there is a book talk right there in the list in the form of the annotation one of your colleagues wrote for you. All you have to say to your patron is, “such and such library worker in blank state thought this was a great read,” and then you read what he or she said.
4. Every upcoming book now has at least 1 readalike that is available to hand out RIGHT NOW. Book talk the upcoming book, place a hold for it, and then hand out that readalike title for while they wait. If they need more titles before their hold comes in, use the readalike title to identify more readalike titles. And then keep repeating. Seriously, it is that easy to have happy, satisfied readers.

So get out there and suggest a good read to someone today. I don’t care what list or resource you use to find the suggestion, just start suggesting books.

Please remember to click here for everything you need to know about how to participate. 

And finally, here is LibraryReads' extremely helpful Resources page.

Now let's get to the June 2026 list.... 

MaggieMaggie O'FO'Farrarrell

Land: A Novel

(Knopf(Knopf)

A breathtakingly beautiful story of one Irish family and the fates of its members as they navigate the world in the years just after the Great Famine. O'Farrell's rich writing vividly captures both the characters and the wild beauty of the Irish landscape, creating an unforgettable and emotionally riveting narrative that will have readers rapt.

—Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, IL

NoveList read-alike: Clear by Carys Davies

Now the rest of the list...

The Children

Melissa Albert

(William Morrow)

Childhood in their family's isolated Vermont farmhouse was magical for siblings Guin and Ellis, until it wasn't. Years later, facades and a carefully curated life begin to crack, and they must face the truths of what happened two decades ago. This page-turning novel is full of magic and heartbreak.

—Jennifer Winberry, Hunterdon County Library, NJ

NoveList read-alike: The Book of Love by Kelly Link

The Housewife

Natalie Barelli

(Poisoned Pen Press)

Jodie can't go to the police with suspicions about how her husband’s first wife died, because she's hiding

something too. The secrets are on a collision course, with an early twist that only breeds more questions. The suspense builds steadily and the payoff genuinely delivers, keeping readers second-guessing right up to the last page.

—Lupe Herrera, Mount Pleasant Public Library, TX

NoveList read-alike: The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

Villa Coco: A Novel

Andrew Sean Greer

(Doubleday)

“Our young man" narrates this quirky story of falling in love with Tuscany while doing all manner of work (except the work he was actually hired for, cataloging her belongings) for the wealthy 92-year-old

Baronessa. Odd developments, interesting relationships, and excellent storytelling combine for a winning summer read.

—Crystal Faris, Kansas City Public Library, MO

NoveList read-alike: One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle 

The Shampoo Effect: A Novel    

Jenny Jackson

(Pamela Dorman Books)

Caroline receives a scholarship and moves into a cottage near the shore of Massachusetts. There, she meets an attractive young man and is drawn into his friend group. Caroline finds it challenging to fit in and discovers there’s a lot of baggage among these friends as well as a few secrets. This novel is a fantastic character-driven read.

—Toni Nako, Cincinnati Public Library, OH

NoveList read-alike: So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder

Tropesick

Lauren Okie

(Avon)

A clever, wink-and-a-nod masterpiece that is as much a puzzle as a romance. Katie and Tyler find that the

romantic conventions they are writing for a reclusive author are manifesting in their real lives. The novel playfully deconstructs the mechanics of fate and storytelling. A joyful celebration of the genre that manages to be both self-aware satire and deeply felt love story.

—Lee V., New York Public Library, NY

NoveList read-alike: How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang

The Disaster Gay Detective Agency    

Lev AC Rosen

(Poisoned Pen Press)

When Brandon leaves his front desk duty and sleeps with a handsome hotel guest who then disappears, his campy group of friends gets pulled into a murder mystery they might just regret. This is a light- hearted wild goose chase with spying dog walkers, tattooed assassins, and a lovelorn desk clerk certain that his one night stand was anything but.

—Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin, TX

NoveList read-alike: A Murder Most Camp by Nicolas Didomizio

Marion: A Novel    

Leah Rowan

(St. Martin's Press)

This gripping and darkly entertaining reimagining of Psycho will keep readers hooked from start to finish. The story is fast-paced, unpredictable, and full of twists, with a protagonist who is messy, morally complex, and impossible not to follow. Rowan balances suspense, dark humor, and chaos in a way that makes the book both thrilling and oddly fun.

—Amanda Ladd, DeRuyter Free Library, NY

NoveList read-alike: Molka by Monika Kim

Scandal of the Summer        

Alexandra Vasti

(St. Martin's Griffin)

Three ladies masquerading as royal staff at a secluded villa clash with a band of smugglers posing as the

actual servants. When Captain Malcolm Archer tries to scare them off, the clever Lady Ruby refuses to budge, sparking a fierce, witty battle of wits in this spicy grumpy/sunshine Regency romance.

—Nicole Guerra-Coon, Morrill Memorial Library, MA

NoveList read-alike: Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare

The Jellyfish Problem        

Tessa Yang

(Berkley)

Blaming herself for her co-writer’s fatal diving accident, a heartbroken scientist studying jellyfish accepts an invitation to a troubled Maine island. When she discovers an unknown creature that locals want to exterminate, she is plunged into a mystery of loss and connection. A book readers will savor and remember.

—Di Herald, Mesa County Libraries, CO

NoveList read-alike: The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley

Board Bonus pick:

Sublimation

Isabel J. Kim

(Tor Books) 

Notable Nonfiction: 

   

The Book of Birds: A Field Guide to Wonder and Loss  

Robert Macfarlane

(W. W. Norton & Co)

See our social media for annotations of the bonus picks

Click here to see the entire Hall of Fame

The LibraryReads Hall of Fame designation honors authors who have had multiple titles appear on the monthly LibraryReads list since 2013. When their third title places on the list via library staff votes, the author moves into the Hall of Fame. Click here to see the Hall of Fame authors organized in alpha order. Please note, the current year's Hall of Fame lists are pulled out at the top of the page.

Andrews, Mary Kay    

Road Trip      

St. Martin's Press    

 

Arden, Katherine    

The Unicorn Hunters: A Novel    

Del Rey      

Benedict, Marie and Victoria Christopher Murray    

A Pair of Aces        

Berkley           

              

Hall, Alexis    

Father Material        

SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca       

                   

Jewell, Lisa    

It Could Have Been Her    

Atria Books         

Patchett, Ann    

Whistler: A Novel    

Harper     

Poston, Ashley   

The Someday Garden        

Berkley            

 

See, Lisa    

Daughters of the Sun and Moon    

Scribner